Poor ice was a problem in Game Three

BOSTON -- Because of the NHL lockout, the Stanley Cup Final is stretching into the second half of June. The seasonably warm and humid temperatures outside on Monday didn't help the ice conditions inside the TD Garden.

BOSTON -- Because of the NHL lockout, the Stanley Cup Final is stretching into the second half of June. The seasonably warm and humid temperatures outside on Monday didn't help the ice conditions inside the TD Garden.

Both Dennis Seidenberg and Tuukka Rask said the ice was a problem in Game Three.

"It is pretty bad. When you try to shoot, try to swing your blade on the ice, it feels like it's sandpaper. It's really rough. When you try to pass, the puck bounces,'' said Seidenberg.

"That's why you have to keep the game simple. If there's a play to be made, you have to make sure it's an easy one. If not, you rather choose to go over the wall and out.''

Caution is the key, Rask said.

"The ice was pretty good in the start of the periods. Then pretty quickly it got really chippy. It's tough to get the read off of shots when it's really a mess out there with the ice.

"You just got to be extra careful with the crazy bounces and stuff. You don't want to make any stupid mistakes playing the puck either. You just got to be extra careful.''